Premier Christy Clark plans housing announcement after NDP introduces two bills in legislature

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      B.C.'s premier will meet reporters this morning in Vancouver with an "important announcement" about the housing market.

      Christy Clark is scheduled to speak in Stanley Park at 10 a.m.

      It comes a day after NDP Leader John Horgan introduced two bills in the legislature in response to so-called shadow flipping and empty homes.

      According to Horgan, the Housing Affordability Fund and Speculator Fee Act would enable the government to collect a two percent tax on the assessed value of properties that are left vacant. The money would go into a housing-affordability fund.

      NDP Leader John Horgan wants to tax owners of empty homes.
      Stephen Hui

      The Property Transfer Tax Fairness Act would ensure that taxes would be paid when assignments to purchase were sold for a profit.

      “New Democrats understand the housing crisis is getting worse, we care about what is happening to people and their communities and these bills show we’re ready to act,” NDP housing critic David Eby said in a party news release.

      On Family Day, Eby held a news conference in his Vancouver-Point Grey constituency office to raise concerns about the repeated sale of contracts to purchase homes before the original closing date.

      At the time, the NDP MLA said that the party would be focusing on the housing crisis in this session of the legislature.

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